Chapter 3
The following day, I was job hunting again downtown. I was looking for any vacancy—if not management—at all in this new town. I drove here from Raleigh about a month ago and Elizabeth, who’s my friend ever since high school, was here for the weekend, staying with relatives. Her timing and mine was definitely right.
I had called earlier before I left to the WWF inquiry line and asked for any job vacancies. I had told the lady who had answered that I specialized in anything that involves ensuring smooth flow of things and management. She told me to come down to the arena and ask the guard there for a Vivian. And when I arrived there in fifteen minutes, I did. The guard told me I was expected and led me to Vivian’s office.
It turned out that there was a job vacancy—a person who makes sure that everything runs smoothly during the show. Equipment, lighting, the scheduled matches, and the wrestlers themselves need to be tended to. Vivian told me she’d talk to Vince McMahon about it and for me to come back the next day.
I smiled at her gratefully as I got up and walked out of the office. On my way out, I passed by the backstage of the arena. Some people were rushing here and there, calling orders. A few wrestlers came out of their locker rooms in casual clothing. They must be here to practice their material or something, I thought. For a moment, nothing was on my mind but the job opportunity that I’ve received since the last one puffed out two weeks ago that I didn’t notice a couple of rolls of cable wires lying around the floor in a heap.
The next thing I realized, I tripped onto something and was falling backward. A silent scream escaped my throat and I waited for the pain to explode throughout my body. But it didn’t come. Someone caught me just in time. Arms that were strong, yet gentle as I was lifted back up. I straightened my velvet skirt and rearranged my hair. I was muttering to myself for being so careless as I turned around but I immediately stopped when my eyes met a familiar pair’s.
I cleared my throat and managed to say, “Uh, thank you very much for…saving me from a nasty fall,” I said, avoiding his eyes as casually as I can. I knew his face, but I didn’t know him by name. He was one of the wrestlers I saw on Monday night, I think.
He smiled. “Are you OK?” he asked with concern.
“I’m fine, thanks to you, er…” I didn’t know his name.
“Just call me Jeff,” he said, extending his hand. “And it’s no prob. I can’t not help a damsel in distress—in this case, beautiful,” he added. I shook his hand.
“Thanks again,” I said gratefully.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
Should I tell him? I wondered. But what harm could it do? I thought. A lot, a voice in my head told me. “Uh, just dropped by to see someone,” I said. He didn’t ask anymore questions.
“Well, it was nice talking to you,” he said, forgetting to ask my name.
“Thanks again,” I said as I walked away and took a bus home. When I got there, however, I changed my mind of hanging around but go to a club instead. I changed into my leather mini skirt and my leopard-printed blouse and headed out to the club. I didn’t want to bother Liz so I didn’t call her.
The club was dark, with lights occasionally flashing. People were crowded on the dance floor, dancing to Madison Avenue’s ‘Don’t Call Me Baby’. I went over to the bar and took a seat.
“What’ll it be?” the bartender asked.
“Cocktail,” I said loudly so that he could hear me over the loud music.
As I was sipping my cocktail through a long, designated cocktail straw, I thought about the job that I hoped I was going to get—otherwise, I’d have to look somewhere else. I turned around and looked at the people on the dance floor as they grooved to the music. A lot of them were teens, I could tell. They’re having the time of their lives, I thought almost enviously. While I’m here, twenty-one years old and fresh out from college, looking for a job to support myself. I sighed. Life was simple then. But complicated now.
After I finished my drink, I went outside to get some fresh air by the front door. I was staring at the ground when I smelt a cigarette smoke and a shadow right in front of me. My eyes landed on a man, in his early thirties, wearing leather and a sly expression on his face. I immediately knew this was trouble. I narrowed my eyes slightly. He dropped the cigarette butt and extinguished it.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” he said roughly.
“Don’t you dare even think of touching me,” I said, holding my ground.
“Oh? I don’t see anyone here coming to your rescue,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he moved closer. I backed away a few steps. I could hear the music from inside and I knew that screaming would be useless. But running is another option. Unfortunately, I was backed into a corner. I was scared, but not a damn thing in this world would ever make me show it to this asshole.
“Let me go!” I screamed with fury. “You won’t get away with this!”
“Well, too bad, you won’t get away from me,” he breathed. I turned away at the foul smell of his stinky cigarette breath. I tried to get away by hitting him with all I had, but his grip was too strong. “Don’t fight it, hon,” he said huskily as he pinned me to a concrete wall. He was just about to touch me when I yelled for help. Simultaneously, a voice caught both our attentions.
“You heard the lady. Let her go.” A tall figure among the shadows said in a serious I-mean-it voice.
Chapter 4
Chapter 2